Contract faculty vote to approve offer

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York University said classes are still suspended on Tuesday, but said some may resume soon after contract faculty split with teaching assistants and agreed to accept a new contract offer.

CUPE Local 3093, which represents thousands of contract faculty, graduate assistants, teaching assistants and reaching assistants at York University, held a ratification vote on Monday night. (Neil Herland/CBC)

The majority of the 3,700 employees represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees remain on strike Tuesday, including bargaining units 1 and 3 that represent teaching assistants, research assistants and graduate assistants.

But 65 per cent of the bargaining unit representing contract faculty voted yes, something that may allow some classes to resume.

"Ultimately, the decision is York’s in how they want to proceed," said CUPE spokesperson Kevin Wilson.

A message posted on York University’s website said students can expect an update about classes on Tuesday, after the school's senate executive meets to discuss options.

"The University is reviewing plans to allow as many students as possible to return to their studies in order to complete their terms," the statement says.

York also said it would be in touch with provincial mediators to discuss the next steps in the negotiations.

CUPE Local 3903 says Unit 1 voted 59 per cent against and Unit 3 voted 77 per cent to reject the agreement. CUPE reported that voter turnout represented 34 per cent of the 3,728 affected.

York, one of the largest universities in Canada with 47,000 undergraduate students and another 6,000 graduate students, has suspended classes since March 3.

CUPE says about two-thirds of undergraduate courses at the universities are taught by non-tenured staff who are paid about $15,000 a year.